State police investigating death of Leominster officer

LEOMINSTER — A Leominster police officer found dead in his home Tuesday died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to authorities. Two days earlier, the officer was involved in a serious car crash.

Officer Christopher L. Asmar was found dead in his home at 88 Rumbrook Road following a 911 call at 11:15 a.m. Tuesday, according to Timothy J. Connolly, spokesman for District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr.

At the time, state police had opened an investigation into a serious rollover accident involving Officer Asmar. The crash occurred early Sunday.

Mr. Connolly said Officer Asmar was driving a 2000 Volkswagen Passat north on Day Street when the car crossed a double yellow line. Officer Asmar apparently over-corrected, and the car spun through the intersection at Joslin Street and hit a curb and a utility pole before rolling onto its roof, Mr. Connolly said.

Officer Asmar and two passengers were taken to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries.

The district attorney's office was notified of the accident at about 3 a.m. Sunday. Two days later, the officer was found dead by fellow Leominster police officers.

Police Chief Robert Healey said Wednesday he could not comment further on the circumstances of the officer's death.

Officer Asmar had been on the Leominster Police Department for less than a year.

"He earned the respect and love of his colleagues," Chief Healey said. "Thee devastation here is he had a tremendous future."

Chief Healey said the department's four-member critical incident stress team has been working with officers in dealing with the loss of their friend and colleague. They were at the scene when Officer Asmar was found dead and will continue to work with the department the next couple of days.

"We'll band together and pull together," he said.

Chief Healey said when Leominster Police Sgt. Richard Kinney, the department's accident reconstruction specialist, went to the accident scene Sunday, he decided to call in state police because of the complexity of the situation in which a police officer was involved and others were injured.

Chief Healey said the department is focusing on the loss of a good young officer.

"Right now we don't have to know the whys, we have to deal with the loss," he said.